Yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech for people 16 years and older. The approval was a first for a coronavirus vaccine in the US after the vaccine was granted emergency use back in December. Now the hope is that the announcement will boost vaccination drives across the country as infections begin to rise again.
Closer to home vaccination hesitancy has started to show signs of slowing down. In the Western Cape, the health department said “vaccine supply no longer outstrips demand” as the opening of the vaccination drive to the 18 to 34-year-old age group saw 200 000 vaccinations administered over the last week at the provinces’ 300 administrative sites.
While an anti-vaxx protest outside of Groote Schuur Hospital over the weekend, one of the hardest-hit hospitals in the country, has sparked an impassionate defence from the hospital’s board and CEO of the healthcare professionals who work there.
Board member Dr Zameer Brey lambasted protestors and said they had forgotten all the hard sacrifices healthcare workers have had to make during the coronavirus pandemic.
The hospital added that its experience during the third wave had shown a significant decrease in deaths and severe illness in vaccinated patients. Another positive indication that vaccines provide the best protection against the virus.
To read the full News24 report of the protest over the weekend, please subscribe.
Here’s a roundup of the most interesting opinions and analyses:
The Citizen
Pfizer approval may help erase doubts among vaxx-hesitant – Editorial (for subscribers)
News24 / Fin24
Tone-deaf ANC chose Mapisa-Nqakula as Speaker and Parliament the poorer for it – Ralph Mathekga (for subscribers)
Covid-19: Men need to step up to help protect our way of life – Mavuso Msimang
Business Day
Lindiwe Zulu’s modus operandi is irresponsibility – Editorial
Goliaths can turn the tables on digital disrupters – Johan Steyn (for subscribers)
Financial Mail
Afghanistan vs SA — tales of youth under siege – Sarah Buitendach
Daily Maverick
Lindiwe Zulu’s contrarian move could be a sign of new ANC factional fights to come – Stephen Grootes
The X factor: South Africa’s financial markets watchdog cracks down on ZAR X – Ray Mahlaka
Sunday Times Daily
The problem with extremists is that they’re … um extreme – Tom Eaton
